A weekly thread about the past
In the past few years, it’s become a cliche to compare our present predicament with the Weimar Republic. Germany’s first experiment with democracy produced an era that, despite its relatively brief existence (1918 through 1933), has presented us with indelible, … Continue reading History Thread: Revisiting Weimar
Today is the 100th birthday of former President James Earl Carter. Jimmy, as he liked to be called, took office in 1977 when the memory of Watergate was still fresh and took office amidst an immense climate of optimism. Unfortunately, … Continue reading The History Thread Celebrates History’s Greatest Monster
This week’s History Thread marks the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. A document full of flaws and contradictions as it’s a human document written by men very much of their time, and today it is invoked … Continue reading The Constitutional History Thread
History Thread prompt this week: we often talk about mysteries, be they paranormal stuff, unsolved crimes or just things that will probably never be known, because it’s an easy and fun topic to discuss. Which ones do you find the … Continue reading The History Thread Wants to Solve Your Mystery
Today’s History Thread remembers one of the strangest disasters in modern history, the saga of the Morro Castle. On September 8th, 1934 this ocean liner caught fire off the shore of New Jersey, killing 137 people and leaving a massive … Continue reading The History Thread Burns
This week’s prompt: Share your historical hot takes! What unpopular or unorthodox opinions do you hold on historical subjects, particularly in your area of expertise? Please be civil in any disagreements, and don’t be like Mr. Brooks in the header … Continue reading The HOT TAKE History Thread
Discussion prompt: Which historical figures do you think are misunderstood? Could be someone who is remembered as a villain but really isn’t, or a person known as good who’s really not. Continue reading The Misunderstood History Thread
As someone who spends a lot of time studying, and occasionally writing about the ’60s and ’70s, I confess I’ve always been immune to the charm of the Kennedys. Maybe if I was older and lived through the era, I’d … Continue reading The History Thread Reflects on Camelot
Yesterday, news outlets reported the passing of William Calley, perpetrator of the Vietnam War’s most infamous atrocity. On March 16, 1968 Calley’s platoon massacred hundreds of Vietnamese civilians (the exact number remains in dispute, anywhere from 347 to 503) in … Continue reading History Thread: The Battle Hymn of William Calley
This has been one of the craziest weeks in presidential politics ever. Seriously, it’s been awhile since it’s been so obvious we’re living through a historical moment that you can’t really ignore it. Or maybe I can’t, because I’m unable … Continue reading The History Thread Shall Not Seek, and Will Not Accept
Welcome back to the History Thread! I picked up a big haul of books over the weekend, including John Ferling’s Almost a Miracle, Dennis Mack Smith’s biography of Mussolini, Eric D. Weitz’s Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy and Mark Whittaker’s … Continue reading The History Thread Reads and Learns
Sorry for a late History Thread, and for missing last week. My recent work schedule’s made it hard to put anything together more than a quick prompt or blurb, I might have to consider posting this on another day. Anyway, … Continue reading The Afternoon History Thread Phones It In
On June 9th, Lynn Conway passed away at the age of 86. Conway was a pioneering computer engineer who left a major impact in her field. Conway worked at IBM during “a golden age in computer research, a time when … Continue reading The History Thread Remembers Lynn Conway
It’s time again for the History Thread! We’re continuing our celebration of Pride Month by asking readers for recommended books, documentaries or podcasts about queer history. Today’s header image is one of 2,800 vintage photographs of same-sex couples collected by … Continue reading The History Thread Reads About LGBTQ History
Happy Pride Month! The History Thread kicks off this month’s celebration of LGBTQ history by asking Who are your favorite LGBTQ historical figures? It can be people you admire for their achievements, or people you consider personal heroes or role … Continue reading The History Thread Celebrates Pride Month
No Triangles, Bermuda or otherwise in this week’s header. Enjoy a rhombus instead. Discuss what you will. Continue reading A Basic History Thread
Welcome back to the Bermuda Triangle, that mysterious zone where planes, ships, people and who knows what else supposedly vanish into thin air! Of course, most disappearances likely have rational explanations, just ones that are difficult to prove due to … Continue reading History Thread: Triangle Tidbits, Part II
I’ve spent the past few days in my old stomping grounds, the Bermuda Triangle. I’ve written about the place where the world’s ships, planes and sailors go to vanish into thin air in a few articles; it’s a story more … Continue reading History Thread: Triangle Tidbits
On February 16, 1837 the House of Lords convened in the former Painted Chamber of the Palace of Westminster. The Houses of Parliament, destroyed in an 1834 fire, were still in the process of rebuilding its interiors when they oversaw … Continue reading History Thread: Of Black Bottles, Depraved Duelists and Legal Legerdemain
Today, April 23rd, is generally celebrated as the birthday of playwright William Shakespeare. Generally considered one of, perhaps the greatest English-language playwright ever, Shakespeare likely needs no introduction to anyone reading this. And whatever a few cranks and Roland Emmerich … Continue reading History Thread Celebrates Shakespeare’s Birthday
After a long, work-mandated hiatus, the History Thread returns, as if on a sealed train from Switzerland. I’ll try to make this a weekly thread again, at least for the foreseeable future, but I can’t guarantee I’ll have time to … Continue reading The Triumphant Return of the History Thread!
